Advice req. about getting into the motor industry

[Doc...]

Snippy, I'm with you

They should dig a big hole in the earth - Coventry would do

Put every single mini (including the new mini), rover and LDV into the hole and nuke them.

That would get rid of them and cov at the same time 

Following that, I'm sure there would then be lobbyists trying to put all the french rubbish into calais and do the same there hehe...

Cheers

Steve...

[manicmotors]

steve
dont forget LTI

[webbo1989]

Sounds like a great idea

[DC]

hi all,
sorry now for sounding a bit nasty, but I cannot stop myself typing. Here goes:
I am sick and tired of people deciding that there is no money in building, retail, property etc. so they decide to buy a diagnostic tool from madeinchina.com and take the diagnostic world by storm. Most people have concluded that there is no need to learn the four stroke cycle, but they can "do diagnostics".
My advice is start basic and don't make people laugh by saying that you want to get into diagnostics. I started sweeping the garage, then changing oil and filters and in no time I was doing clutches and timing belts. Now I find it hard to do a lube service without getting the scope out (if only for a bit of fun).

Can I give you a scenario, trouble code P0170, fuel trim malfunction. This code can be caused by an Air mass meter, an oxygen sensor but just as well incorrect valve timing or breather problems. The basics are still as inportant as ever.
My rant is nearly over, just start at the first step on the ladder and don't buy a Modis or Pico scope before you buy an oil filter strap.
Hope I have upset too many people.
Damo

[snippy]

dont buy a modis full stop unless you have a door that needs to be held open 

[DC]

Hi Snippy,
I honestly think it is a very good tool. On the scanner side codes and data are good with very few issues on the manufacturers covered. VAG, BMW, AFL, Renault, PSA have all greatly inproved over the last few years. Hyundai is now covered on the Asian side.
A lot of special functions have been added, like VW parking brake replacement, VW brake bleeding. BMW MAF adaption, Opel O2 and idle block learn memories reset. Injector coding on Renault, Ford, Peugeot/Citroen. Timed access on Ford diesel pumps. A very good quality scope for use on modern motor vehicles, new products added such as component test meter, first released in 9.2 and big update on the way for 9.4. Ask your dealer for a look at it.
Obviously Pico do a great scope, Carman is very good an Asian cars, Bosch KTS is good on German stuff, DEC is good a programming and configuring, but I genuieny think that the Modis deserves more credit.
Damo

[Will H]

Hi John
You appear to be able to construct your postings in a clear and concise way, so I'm a little confussed as to why you say that you struggle with achieving qualifications??

On a personal level, l started straight from school, at a small rural family owned garage, undertaking anything which came through the door. I also did my day release apprenticeship. However at the age of 21 and passed with flying colours I thought I knew it all and pushed for top line pay. - I had my P45.

I then started my own workshop and realised how little I knew about the workings of cars, as I had nobody to turn to and the ilexa forum wasn't about in those days 
As such, I agree with the others when they say that you have got to know your subject inside out and how it is supposed to work before you complicate matters with trying to find out why a car is poorly. But as you say, how do you get that experience??

Every day is a school day for me and I have new challenges to get my head around and as technology progresses I'm always playing catchup. Although it's always interesting, the amount of none chargeable time I spend each day learning and doing research is frightening.

If you haven't been put off by the comments by now, the one area which is so critical to today's vehicles is electrical components. You must be able to understand electrical circuits. Without a clear understanding of this area, you are stumped and I mean a clear understanding, not just be able to recall a formula, but know why it does what it does and if it behaves in a strange way, know why and where to start looking.
This would be the one area I would concentrate on.
Get knowledge in this area and the smaller garages, who have previously resisted change and now find that they open a bonnet of a modern car and then close it again, because they haven't a clue, will treat you like a messiah.

Will H

PS
.......................Or get your head around keys, locks and immobilizers - a head scratcher to most.

[johnjohn]

totally agree with dc. im only out of my time a while and im still sweeping floors doing tyres servicing clutches timing belts etc plus a bit of diagnostics not to forget that im still learning everyday. throughout the corse off my apprenteship i have amassed a collection of roughly 30k worth of tools and counting(including pico,vcds,ids,mb star,bmw gt1 & launch). people must be day dreaming if they think they can walk in off the street and start doing diagnostic work. experience aswell is huge but a good head and understanding is essential. rome wasnt build in a day.

the fact of the matter is all the diagnostic equipment i invested in recently still hasnt paid for its self and i know how to use it(id like to think ) also its just a never ending process keeping up with the latest tools and technology.

my advice to anyone looking to get into this trade is to start by doing the shops and sweeping the floors like almost all of use here have done

rant over

[snippy]

my boss thinks diagnostics are the machine doing the work  its the chap or chappess behind the machine that does the work . i compleetly agree that the basics are the start you can look at data from a missfire on a tool for ever and a day but a compression test is always the first base !
DC  no offence ment by the snap on jibe i am sure there are more uses than holding doors open  have used snap on in the past and didnt get on with it and found better FOR ME tools to use
my boss done a plug in on a mondeo yesterday told the customer the egr valve was nacked customer went and replaced egr valve still the same (customer pissed off )
came back today and i found a broken wire in the loom replaced section of loom all ok
hence its the opperator thats good not the tool once this is learned it opens lots of doors

[NigeC]

Hi
I agree with Snippy here, the diagnostic platform you are using is only as good as the tech that is reading it, fault codes can be caused by upstream or downstream problems from the sensor in question.
Accurate live data is most important.
Unfortunately, Modis is good as a general package, it's not the best, I gave mine back a while ago purely for that reason
Dec SSII, Carmen, AutoEnginuity and Pico are a far superior package for the equivilant money value.

I've swept floors and steam cleaned everything from D9's to Mini Clubmans (back in the 70's) all experience for me.

My advice for getting into this trade is if you want a decent wage and living with no hassle GET OUT NOW 

Nige